Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to take effective measures for maintaining law and order in the state, and to ensure that investigation into kidnapping cases are monitored by senior officials.

The order was passed by Justice Ravindra Singh, who had summoned Director General of Police A C Sharma while hearing bail plea of one Shyam Lal.

The petitioner has been accused of kidnapping a girl in Mirzapur district who went missing on January 26, 2010 and is still untraceable.

The court also asked the DGP to ensure that the girl is traced within a month.